A TWISTED DILEMMNA IN PNG POLITICS AND DEVELOPMENT
PNG is an independent nation since its Political Independence in
September 1975. The political system adopted in PNG is called Westminster
System from England.
It is a Democratic System of government and the basis of its ideology is based
on the slogan “Power for the people” meaning the power belongs to the people.
They have the right and power to accept or reject a leader in and out of the
Parliament. Hence, the freedom of each person is expressed through free voting
of their leaders. Each elected member serves his or her term in the Parliament
for five years and after every five years new national elections for choosing
leaders begin again. All elected leaders are representatives of the people in
the Parliament and they are means of bringing services and development to their
people.
Papua New Guinea’s Constitution is based on the Democratic System of Government. “In
the months immediately before Independence
on 16 September 1975, the Constitutional Planning Committee (CPC) was set up
and the drafting of the Five National Goals and Directive Principles was
produced. These were incorporated in the Preamble to the Constitution. The
purpose of the goals is to provide for PNG a “guiding lamp” for national
development in its approach” The goals include: (1) Integral human
development, (2) Equality and participation, (3) National
sovereignty and self-reliance, (4) National
resources and environment and (5)-Papua New Guinea ways
The Five National Goals and Directive Principles emphasize clearly of
personal liberation and PNG ways as the basic for development-one goal being
“to achieve development primarily through the use of PNG forms of social,
political and economic organization.” Primarily these goals are very central
and they are the guiding hands to the whole concept of development in PNG.
However, it seems that the National Goals and Directive Principles are only the
pen and paper composition and sweet words budging around. In reality these
goals are impracticable if they are not keeping up to their original plan as
set up in the Constitution since Independence.
Hence, looking at the trend in which PNG is heading, in so far as
development is concerned, there is a clear indication of very little progress.
Look at the deteriorating situation of the existing government infrastructures
and the people’s cry for development in the rural areas. People are wondering
where and how PNG has gone wrong. This raises the question of how soon can the
people experience a better development in the rural areas. They are still
asking this same question “When are we going to see changes and development in
our rural areas?” Contrary, what is evident right now is that the rights of the
people for equal benefits of development as spelled out clearly in the
Constitution is not fulfilled. It contradicts this very principle of our
constitution.
When some of our leaders are in for a wrong intention, only for
their own benefit, it seems everything, in so far as development and other
benefits are concerned, is blurred and becomes impossible for the people to
benefit. As a result suffering is experienced always by the people. Thus, “it
seems that for personal power, prestige, possessions and privileges, we
conveniently forget about our duty to future generations of PNG.” As soon as
this happens, it puts the stop to any plan for further progress and the leaders
are enjoying the good life at the expense of the little people who mandated
them to listen to their needs. This is not happening as is evident in the
country at present.
Apparently, the result of no proper administration and delivering of
the basic goods and services to the people have created a certain widening gap
between the rich and the poor. It is obvious that the so-called rich have
benefited most from the vast resources of PNG while the poor and little people
have been totally deprived of rightful benefits. Even the land owners are suffering
from their own land without any proper benefits at all.
Chief Sir Michael Somare, the founding Prime Minister once said: “To
understand where we are going, we must understand what has happened and what is
happening to us.” Taking this statement into consideration I would like to
comment on two questions. Firstly, where is PNG heading? And secondly, are our
national leaders capable of delivering the basic services to the people? It will
be 40 years of celebration of independence comes 16 September 2015. PNG is
certainly old enough to move forward with prosperity and benefits for the
people with its rich mineral resources and agricultural products. It that happening?
A better chance of life for this country depends on our national
leaders and others in authority who believe in the interest of the country and
its people first rather than their own. Definitely PNG has a leadership
problem, leaders who do not clearly understand their roles and functions. It
seems our leaders are not capable and do not understand when and how to take a
drastic measure in their decisions and say no to corrupt dealings. We need
leaders who can take a courageous and an honest stand in all dealings of the
affairs of the country for the interest of the people and its future
generations. PNG needs such leaders who really have the heart for this country
and the interest of the nation first.
The political scenario in PNG is different at this time since it has
taken a new twist with corruption creeping into all levels of life. It can be
seen practiced by our national leaders and people in high offices, and it is
even practiced by the ordinary people. It has definitely influenced and
affected the lives of the people and the good governance of PNG. We have a
situation where our leaders have access to all the luxuries of life while the
bulk of the population is struggling to survive in the midst of rising costs.
There is a lot to be desired about the way PNG is heading at present in regard
to lack of essential basis infrastructural services like education, medicines,
good excess to roads, electricity in the village, good water supply, and many
other basic services are non-existent. The struggle to survive in the problem
of increasing price of goods and services is a major obstacle for ordinary
people. Thus, it seems that the government only exists for certain professional
elites and bureaucrats of this nation while the underprivileged and ordinary
citizens are neglected as they struggle every day for survival.
When faced with such dilemma, that prompted
many to think about how rich PNG is in vast resources of gold, silver, oil,
gas, fish and forests that bring millions of kina into the country every year,
enough for better services and infrastructural development for its citizens, and
yet nothing happens and everything seems impossible. Apparently, we can already
see the soaring gap between the rich and the poor which is widening and the
whole political and economic system only favors the privileged and the rich
people of this country, while the poor and ordinary people are suffering in an
unfair manner in their own land. Is PNG going to this path for another 40
years?
